Ligation Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a ligation apparatus that ligatures living tissue by a clip and provides an optimal ligation apparatus for ligaturing living tissue in a body cavity. 
     The ligation apparatus includes a clip ( 26 ) in which a clip claw member ( 42 ) is advanced and retreated relative to a pressing member ( 40 ) to be opened and closed, a sheath ( 28 ) which is configured to accommodate the clip ( 26 ) such that the clip claw member ( 42 ) is not exposed to the outside, an advance and retreat restricting mechanism ( 50, 52, 54, 56 ) which restricts advance and retreat of the pressing member ( 40 ) relative to the sheath ( 28 ) at a distal end portion of the sheath ( 28 ) and allows advance and retreat of the clip claw member ( 42 ) relative to the pressing member ( 40 ) according to advance and retreat of the operation wire ( 30 ) relative to the sheath ( 28 ) so as to allow the clip ( 26 ) ligaturing living tissue, and a releasing mechanism ( 66, 74, 76, 78 ) which releases at least a portion of the clip ( 26 ) in a state that the clip ( 26 ) ligatures the living tissue.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a ligation apparatus that ligaturesliving tissue using a clip.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a ligation apparatus that ligatures living tissue in abody cavity by a clip is used in combination with an endoscope.

In a ligation apparatus described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI PublicationNo. 2004-121485, a clip includes a pair of arms biased so as to beexpanded. Living tissue is grasped by fitting a pressing pipe on theclip to close the pair of arms, and the living tissue is ligatured bymaintaining the pair of arms in a closed state by the pressing pipe.

In a ligation apparatus described in International Publication No.03/030746A1 Pamphlet, a clip including a pair of clip leg portionsconfigured to open and close is connected to a distal end portion of acoil sheath. Living tissue is grasped by withdrawing a proximal endportion of the clip leg portions into the coil sheath to close the clipleg portions and the living tissue is ligatured by maintaining the clipleg portions in the closed state.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

In the ligation apparatus described in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAIPublication No. 2004-121485, once the pressing pipe is fitted on theclip, the pair of arms can not be opened again, and living tissue cannot be re-grasped. Therefore, in the ligation apparatus described inJpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2004-121485, there is apossibility that living tissue cannot be ligatured properly.

Here, in the ligation apparatus, sharp claw portions are generallyformed on the clip in order to grasp living tissue securely. In theligation apparatus described in International Publication No.03/030746A1 Pamphlet, the clip can not be accommodated in the coilsheath, so that the claw portions of the clip are exposed from the coilsheath. Therefore, when the ligation apparatus is inserted into achannel of an endoscope or the like, there is a possibility that achannel inner wall is damaged by the claw portion, or the claw portionis caught by the channel inner wall, which results in increase inrequired insertion force amount. Therefore, the ligation apparatusdescribed in International Publication No. 03/030746A1 Pamphlet isimproper for insertion into a body cavity.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and anobject thereof is to provide an optimal ligation apparatus forligaturing living tissue in a body cavity.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a ligation apparatus ischaracterized by comprising: a clip including a clip claw member that isconfigured to open and close and ligatures a living tissue and apressing member in which the clip claw member is accommodated andconfigured to advance and retreat, the clip claw member being advancedand retreated relative to the pressing member to be opened and closedaccording to interaction with the pressing member; a sheath which isconfigured to accommodate the clip such that the clip is configured toadvance and retreat and such that the clip claw member is not exposed tothe outside; an operation wire which is inserted through the sheath tobe configured to advance and retreat, whose distal end portion isconnected to the clip claw member, and which is configured to advanceand retreat the clip relative to the sheath; an advance and retreatrestricting mechanism which restricts advance and retreat of thepressing member relative to the sheath at a distal end portion of thesheath to allow advance and retreat of the clip claw member relative tothe pressing member according to advance and retreat of the operationwire relative to the sheath so as to allow the clip ligaturing theliving tissue; and a releasing mechanism which releases at least oneportion of the clip from the sheath in a state that the clip ligaturesthe living tissue.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the advance and retreat restrictingmechanism includes a retreat restricting mechanism which restrictsretreat of the pressing member relative to the sheath and an advancerestricting mechanism which restricts advance of the pressing memberrelative to the sheath.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the retreat restricting mechanismincludes a retreat restriction abutting portion which is provided on thepressing member, and a retreat restricting stopper which is provided onthe sheath and configured to abut the retreat restriction abuttingportion disposed in front of the retreat restricting stopper to restrictretreat of the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member is configured tobe projected from the distal end portion of the sheath and withdrawntherein, the retreat restriction abutting portion includes a bladeportion which is provided on the pressing member, configured to beelastically expand and opened, and, shrink and closed, and which isshrunk and closed when the pressing member is accommodated in the sheathand is expanded and opened when the pressing member protrudes from thesheath; the retreat restricting stopper is provided at a distal endportion of the sheath and configured to abut the expanded and openedblade portion so that the pressing member is restricted to be enteredinto the distal end portion of the sheath.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member and the sheathare approximately cylindrical, the retreat restriction abutting portionis formed of a retreat restricting large diameter portion whose outerdiameter is increased in the pressing member, and the retreatrestricting stopper is formed of a retreat restricting sheath smalldiameter portion whose inner diameter is decreased in the pressingmember.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the operation wire is advanced andretreated relative to the sheath, the clip is advanced and retreatedrelative to the sheath in a range where the retreat restricting largediameter portion does not abut the retreat restricting sheath smalldiameter portion, and the clip claw member is opened and closed byinteraction with the sheath, so that temporary ligaturing of the livingtissue is performed, and in a state that the retreat restricting largediameter portion abuts the retreat restricting sheath small diameterportion, the operation wire is retreated relative to the sheath and theclip claw member is retreated relative to the pressing member so thatprimary ligaturing of living tissue is performed.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that, when the living tissue is primarilyligatured, the clip claw member is fixed to the pressing member byfrictional force.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the advance restricting mechanismincludes an advance restriction abutting portion which is provided onthe pressing member, and an advance restricting stopper which isprovided on the sheath and is configured to abut the advance restrictionabutting portion disposed in rear of advance restricting stopper torestrict advance of the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member and the sheathare approximately cylindrical, the advance restriction abutting portionis formed of an advance restricting large diameter portion whose outerdiameter is increased in the pressing member, and the advancerestricting stopper is formed of an advance restricting sheath smalldiameter portion whose inner diameter is decreased in the sheath.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the advance restricting mechanismincludes an advance restriction abutting portion provided on thepressing member and an advance restricting stopper provided on thesheath and is configured to abut the advance restriction abuttingportion to restrict advance of the pressing member, and when thepressing member is advanced relative to the sheath so that the advancerestriction abutting portion abut the advance restricting stopper, theblade portion is expanded and opened.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus further comprises a connection member connecting a distal endportion of the operation wire and the clip claw member to each other,wherein the releasing mechanism includes a first breaking portion whichis provided on the connection member and which is broken to separate theclip claw member from the distal end portion of the operation wire, anda second breaking portion which is provided on a distal end of theadvance restriction abutting portion in the pressing member and which isbroken to separate the distal end of the pressing member from thesheath.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the second breaking portion includesa fragile portion whose strength is weaker than the other portion of thepressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that, regarding a cross-sectionperpendicular to advancing and retreating directions of the pressingmember, a sectional area of the fragile portion is smaller than that ofthe other portion of the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the releasing mechanism includes anengagement portion provided on a rear end of the first breaking portionon the connection member and an engagement reception portion provided ona rear end of the second breaking portion on the pressing member, andaccording to retreat of the operation wire relative to the sheath, thefirst breaking portion is broken, the connection member is retreated,the engagement portion is engaged with the engagement reception portion,the engagement reception portion is biased toward the rear end, and thesecond breaking portion is broken.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member is approximatelycylindrical and the connection member is approximately cylindrical, theengagement portion is formed of an engagement large diameter portionwhose outer diameter is increased on the connection member, and theengagement reception portion is formed of an engagement small diameterportion whose inner diameter is decreased on the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus further comprises a connection member connecting a distal endportion of the operation wire and the clip claw member to each other,wherein the advance restricting mechanism includes a biasing portionprovided on the distal end portion of the operation wire, and adiameter-expanding and shrinking portion which is provided on thepressing member and configured to be elastically diameter-expand andshrink and which is biased and expanded in a diametrically outwarddirection of the pressing member by the biasing portion to form theadvance restricting large diameter portion, and the releasing mechanismincludes a first breaking portion provided on the connection member andconfigured to be broken to separate the clip claw member from the distalend portion of the operation wire, the biasing portion, and thediameter-expanding and shrinking portion, and according to retreat ofthe operation wire relative to the sheath, the first breaking portion isbroken, the biasing portion is retreated toward the rear end beyond thediameter-expanding and shrinking portion so that the diameter-expandingand shrinking portion is diameter-shrunk, so that the pressing member isallowed to pass through the advance restricting sheath small diameterportion toward the distal end.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the expanding and shrinking diameterportion includes a projecting portion which projects in a diametricalinward direction of the pressing member and is biased in a diametricallyoutward direction of the pressing member by the biasing portion.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member includes anelastic portion which is configured to advance the clip claw memberrelative to the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the elastic portion is elasticallydeformed by retreating the operation wire relative to the sheath andretreating the clip claw member relative to the pressing member, and theelastic portion advances the clip claw member relative to the pressingmember by a repulsive force produced when releasing the operation wire.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member includes a bridgeportion which forcibly opens the clip claw member when the clip clawmember is advanced relative to the pressing member.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the ligationapparatus is characterized in that the pressing member is approximatelycylindrical and includes an opening and closing small diameter portionwhose inner diameter is decreased, the clip claw member includes a pairof arm portions which is opened and closed to each other, the pair ofthe arm portions includes at least two crossing portions which arecrossed to each other and top portions with a folded shape provided onthe respective arm portions between the two crossing portions, andaccording to advance of the clip claw member relative to the pressingmember, the top portions are inserted into the opening and closing smalldiameter portion to be approached to each other by the opening andclosing small diameter portion so that the pair of arm portions isopened, and according to retreat of the clip claw member relative to thepressing member, the top portions are pulled out from the opening andclosing small diameter portion to be spaced from each other so that thepair of arm portions is closed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a ligation apparatus of a first embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a clip of the ligation apparatus ofthe first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a formation of bridge portions of apressing member of the ligation apparatus of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofaccommodating a clip into a sheath in a ligaturing method using theligation apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofrestricting advance and retreat of the pressing member in the ligaturingmethod using the ligation apparatus of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofgrasping living tissue in the ligaturing method using the ligationapparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofseparating a clip claw portion in the ligaturing method using theligation apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofreleasing the clip in the ligaturing method using the ligation apparatusof the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a distal end portion ofa ligation apparatus of a second embodiment of the present invention,for explaining a step of accommodating a clip into a sheath in aligaturing method using this ligation apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofrestricting advance and retreat of a pressing member in the ligaturingmethod using the ligation apparatus of the second embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofgrasping living tissue in the ligaturing method using the ligationapparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofseparating a clip claw member and the pressing member from each other inthe ligaturing method using the ligation apparatus of the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofreleasing a clip in the ligaturing method using the ligation apparatusof the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a distal end portion ofa ligation apparatus of a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofgrasping living tissue in a ligaturing method using the ligationapparatus of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a distal end portion ofa ligation apparatus of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofgrasping living tissue in a ligaturing method using the ligationapparatus of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a distal end portion ofa ligation apparatus of a fifth embodiment of the present invention, forexplaining a step of restricting retreat of a pressing member in aligaturing method using this ligation apparatus;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofrestricting advance of the pressing member in the ligaturing methodusing the ligation apparatus of the fifth embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step oftemporal ligaturing in the ligaturing method using the ligationapparatus of the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofprimary ligaturing in the ligaturing method using the ligation apparatusof the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofseparating a clip claw member and a pressing member in the ligaturingmethod using the ligation apparatus of the fifth embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 23 is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a step ofreleasing a clip in the ligaturing method using the ligation apparatusof the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1 to 8. In a ligation apparatus of this embodiment, aclip 26 is detachably attached to an apparatus main body 24.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus main body 24 includes a flexiblesheath 28 that pass through a channel of an endoscope and is insertedinto a body cavity. In the embodiment, the sheath 28 is formed bywinding a coil tightly. An operation wire 30 for operating a clip 26 isinserted through the sheath 28 and configured to advance and retreat. Acontrol portion 32 for operating the operation wire 30 to advance andretreat is coupled to a proximal end portion of the sheath 28. Thecontrol portion 32 includes an elongated control portion main body 34extending in front and rear direction, and a slider 36 is disposed onthe control portion main body 34 and configured to advance and retreat.A proximal end portion of the operation wire 30 is coupled to the slider36, so that the operation wire 30 is advanced and retreated relative tothe sheath 28 by advancing and retreating the slider 36 with respect tothe control portion main body 34. A ring-like finger catching portion 38is disposed on a rear end portion of the control portion main body 34 inorder to hold the control portion main body 34 during advancing andretreating operation of the slider 36.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the clip 26 is accommodated at a distal endportion of the sheath 28 of the apparatus main body 24 and configured toadvance and retreat. The clip 26 is formed by fitting a clip claw member42 into an approximately cylindrical main body of the pressing member40. The clip claw member 42 is connected with a distal end portion ofthe operation wire 30 via a connection member 44, and the clip clawmember 42 and the pressing member 40 are advanced and retreated togetherrelative to the sheath 28 by advancing and retreating the operation wire30 relative to the sheath 28.

Advance and retreat restricting mechanisms that respectively restrictadvance and retreat of the pressing member 40 relative to the sheath 28at the distal end portion of the sheath 28 will be explained below.

The advance restricting mechanism that restricts advance of the pressingmember 40 relative to the sheath 28 will be first explained in detail.

A circularly-annular stopper member 46 having an outer diameterapproximately equal to an outer diameter of the coil and an innerdiameter smaller than an inner diameter of the coil is fixed at a distalend portion of the coil by welding or the like. That is, a distal end ofthe sheath 28 is formed in a flange shape, and a sheath small diameterportion 48 whose inner diameter is decreased is formed at the distal endof the sheath 28. An advance restricting stopper 50 is formed at a rearend of the sheath small diameter portion 48. On the other hand, anadvance restricting large diameter portion 52 whose outer diameter isincreased is formed at a rear end portion of the pressing member 40. Theadvance restricting large diameter portion 52 configured to abut theadvance restricting stopper 50 so that advance of the pressing member 40relative to the sheath 28 is restricted.

Then, the retreat restricting mechanism that restricts retreat of thepressing member 40 relative to the sheath 28 will be explained indetail.

An outer diameter of a main body portion of the pressing member 40 issmaller than an inner diameter of the sheath small diameter portion 48,and the pressing member 40 is configured to protrude from the distal endportion of the sheath 28. A retreat restricting stopper 54 is formed ofa distal end of the sheath small diameter portion 48. On the other hand,a plurality of blade portions 56 is arranged on the pressing member 40and configured to elastically expand and open, and, shrink and close.That is, the blade portion 56 with elasticity is accommodated in a slitof the pressing member 40 extending in a longitudinal direction, and adistal end portion of the blade portion 56 is connected to the main bodyportion of the pressing member 40 at a distal end of the slit. A rearend portion of the blade portion 56 is configured to be elasticallypivoted about a connection portion between the distal end portion of theblade portion 56 and the main body portion of the pressing member 40.The blade portion 56 is expanded and opened in a natural state where anexternal force is not applied to the blade portion 56.

When the pressing member 40 is accommodated in the sheath 28, the bladeportions 56 are biased by an inner peripheral face of the sheath 28 tobe folded into the slits. When the pressing member 40 protrude from thedistal end portion of the sheath 28, the blade portions 56 are expandedand opened elastically. The expanded and opened blade portions 56 isconfigured to abut the retreat restricting stopper 54 so that retreat ofthe pressing member 40 relative to the sheath 28 is restricted.

Incidentally, a length of the sheath small diameter portion 52 along acentral axis direction thereof is set to be slightly shorter than alength between a distal end face of the advance restricting largediameter portion 52 of the pressing member 40 and a rear end face of theexpanded and opened blade portion 52. That is, in such a case that theclip 26 is advanced relative to the sheath 28, the blade portions 56 areexpanded and opened just when the advance restricting large diameterportion 52 of the pressing member 40 abuts the advance restrictingstopper 50.

An opening and closing mechanism of the clip claw member 42 will beexplained below.

The clip claw member 42 is formed by bending a strip member made fromstainless steel in a V shape such that a bent portion at a centralportion of the strip member is formed in an arc shape and bendinginwardly a pair of distal end portions of the V-shaped strip member soas to face each other. Here, an engagement portion 58 engaged with theconnection member 44 is formed of an arc-shaped bent portion of the clipclaw member 42. A pair of arm portions 60 that is opened and closed toeach other to grasp living tissue is formed of a pair of arm-shapedportions protruding from the arc-shaped bent portion, and claw portions62 punctured into living tissue are formed of hook-shaped portions atdistal end portions of the pair of arm-shaped portion.

The connection member 44 connecting the distal end portion of theoperation wire 30 and the clip claw member 42 includes a figure obtainedby sequentially connecting a semi-cylindrical portion 64, a largecylindrical portion 66, and a small cylindrical portion 68 from a distalend of the connection member 44 in the order approximately coaxially,and it is accommodated in the pressing member 40. The semi-cylindricalportion 64 has a shape equal to that of one of two halves obtained bydividing a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter approximatelyequal to that of the large cylindrical portion 66 at a plane includingthe central axis. A teardrop-shaped engagement reception portion 70 isprojected from a flat face portion of the semi-cylindrical portion 64,and the engagement portion 58 of the clip claw member 42 is winded onthe engagement reception portion 70. A taper shape having an outerdiameter that becomes smaller toward a rear end thereof is formed on arear end of the large cylindrical portion 66, and the small cylindricalportion 68 having an outer diameter smaller than that of the largecylindrical portion 66 is connected to the taper-shaped rear endportion. The distal end portion of the operation wire 30 is connected toa proximal end portion of the small cylindrical portion 68 by bonding,welding, or the like. Here, when advance and retreat of the pressingmember 40 relative to the sheath 28 is restricted, the connection member44, namely, the clip claw member 42, is advanced and retreated relativeto the pressing member 40 by advancing and retreating the operation wire30 relative to the sheath 28.

Bridge portions 72 are bridged on the distal end portion of the pressingmember 40 in a diametrical direction so as to cross a distal end openingof the distal end portion. The distal end opening is divided into twoopenings by these bridge portions 72, and the pair of arm portions 60 ofthe clip claw member 42 is slidably inserted into a pair of dividedopenings, respectively. The clip claw member 42 is advanced relative tothe pressing member 40 so that the pair of arm portions 60 is biased andopened by the bridge portions 72, and the clip claw member 42 is opened.Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, the bridge portions 72 can be formedby bending elongated plate-shaped pieces projected in a direction of thecentral axis symmetrically about the central axis inwardly in the distalend face of the pressing member 40. On the other hand, the clip clawmember 42 is retreated relative to the pressing member 40 so that theclip claw member 42 is withdrawn into the pressing member 40 and theclip claw member 42 is closed by the pressing member 40.

A releasing mechanism for releasing the clip 26 from the distal endportion of the sheath 28 will be explained below.

As described above, the clip claw member 42 and the distal end portionof the operation wire 30 are connected to each other by the connectionmember 44. A portion between the engagement reception portion 70 and thelarge cylindrical portion 66 at the semi-cylindrical portion 64 of theconnection member 44 is made breakable, and it forms a first breakingportion 74. Incidentally, the first breaking portion 74 may be formed byreducing the diameter of the semi-cylindrical portion 64 to makestrength thereof weak. When retreat of the pressing member 40 relativeto the sheath 28 is restricted and the clip claw member 42 is withdrawninto the pressing member 40 sufficiently, the first breaking portion 74is broken by further retreating the operation wire 30 relative to thesheath 28.

A second breakable breaking portion 76 is formed between the advancerestricting large diameter portion 52 of the pressing member 40 and theblade portions 56. The second breaking portion 76 is formed of a fragileportion with weak strength, and a sectional area of the fragile portionis made smaller than that of the main body portion of the pressingmember 40 regarding a cross-section perpendicular to the central axisdirection of the pressing member 40. In the embodiment, the fragileportion is formed by thinning the thickness of the pressing member 40,but it may be formed by forming a slit or the like. An engagement smalldiameter portion 78 whose inner diameter is reduced relative to the mainbody portion of the pressing member 40 is formed at a rear end of thesecond breaking portion 76. When the first breaking portion 74 isbroken, the tapered shape at the rear end of the large cylindricalportion 66 serving as an engagement large diameter portion is engagedwith the engagement small diameter portion 78 of the pressing member 40according to retreat of the operation wire 30 relative to the sheath 28,thereby biasing the engagement small diameter portion 78 toward the rearend to break the second breaking portion 76.

Next, referring to FIGS. 4 to 8, the ligaturing method of living tissueusing the ligation apparatus of the embodiment will be explained. In theembodiment, the ligation apparatus is used in combination with anendoscope.

Referring to FIG. 4, attachment is performed such that the clip 26 iscompletely accommodated in the distal end portion of the sheath 28. Inthe attached state, the clip claw member 42 is not exposed to theoutside and the blade portions 56 of the pressing member 40 areelastically shrunk and closed by an inner peripheral face of the sheath28 to be folded into the slits. Incidentally, the clip claw member 42 isdisposed at the front end position relative to the pressing member 40and the clip claw member 42 is biased to be opened to a maximum extentby the bride portions 72, but it is elastically closed by the innerperipheral face of the sheath 28.

Then, the sheath 28 is inserted through a channel of the endoscopeinserted into a body cavity and the distal end portion of the sheath 28is inserted into the body cavity by protruding the distal end portion ofthe sheath 28 from the distal end portion of the channel. The distal endportion of the sheath 28 is moved near a section to be ligatured A ofliving tissue under observation performed by the endoscope.Incidentally, the sheath 28 may be inserted into a body cavity using achannel of a guiding equipment other than the endoscope.

Referring to FIG. 5, the slider 36 is advanced relative to the controlportion main body 34 in the control portion 32 and the clip 26 isadvanced relative to the sheath 28 by the operation wire 30 so that theclip 26 protrude from the distal end portion of the sheath 28. At thetime, the advance restricting large diameter portion 52 of the pressingmember 40 abuts the advance restricting stopper 50 of the sheath smalldiameter portion 48 so that the pressing member 40 is prevented frombeing further protruded from the distal end portion of the sheath 28.Simultaneously, the pressing member 40 protrudes from the distal endportion of the sheath 28 so that restriction performed by the innerperipheral face of the sheath 28 is released and the blade portions 56of the pressing member 40 are expanded and opened, and the expanded andopened blade portions 56 abuts the retreat restricting stopper 54 at thedistal end of the sheath 28 so that the pressing member 40 is restrictedentering into the distal end portion of the sheath 28. Biasing to theclip claw member 42 by the inner peripheral face of the sheath 28 isreleased so that the clip claw member 42 is opened to a maximum extent.

Referring to FIG. 6, the sheath 28 of the ligation apparatus is pushedrelative to the endoscope and the distal end portion of the clip clawmember 42 is pressed onto the portion to be ligatured A of the livingtissue under observation performed by the endoscope. The slider 36 isretreated relative to the control portion main body 34 of the ligationapparatus. As a result, the clip claw member 42 is retreated relative tothe pressing member 40 by the operation wire 30, and the clip clawmember 42 is withdrawn into the pressing member 40, so that the clipclaw member 42 is closed by the pressing member 40. The claw portions 62of the clip claw member 42 are punctured into the portion to beligatured A and living tissue is grasped by the clip claw member 42. Theclip claw member 42 is sufficiently closed by sufficiently withdrawingthe clip claw member 42 into the pressing member 40, so that the livingtissue is ligatured.

Here, when the portion to be ligatured A is properly ligatured inligature for hemostasis, bleed is stopped, but when proper ligature cannot be achieved, hemostasis can not be obtained so that re-ligature isnecessary. When re-ligature is performed, the slider 36 is advancedrelative to the control portion main body 34 of the ligation apparatus.As a result, the clip claw member 42 is advanced relative to thepressing member 40 by the operation wire 30, so that the clip clawmember 42 is biased and opened by the bridge portions 72. Thus, theportion to be ligatured A is released. Thereafter, the above-describedoperation is repeated until the portion to be ligatured A is properlyligatured.

Referring to FIG. 7, the slider 36 is further retreated relative to thecontrol portion main body 34 in a state that the portion to be ligaturedA has been properly ligatured and the clip claw member 42 has beensufficiently withdrawn into the pressing member 40. As a result, thefirst breaking portion 74 of the connection member 44 is broken and theclip claw member 42 is separated from the operation wire 30.

Referring to FIG. 8, after the first breaking portion 74 has beenbroken, the slider 36 is further retreated relative to the controlportion main body 34. As a result, the large cylindrical portion 66 ofthe connection member 44 is engaged with the engagement small diameterportion 78 of the pressing member 40 and the engagement small diameterportion 78 is biased toward the rear end by the large cylindricalportion 66, so that the fragile portion of the pressing member 40 isbroken. Thus, the distal end portion of the pressing member 40 isseparated from the distal end portion of the sheath 28.

Thereafter, the sheath 28 is pulled out relative to the endoscope andthe clip 26 is released from the distal end portion of the sheath 28.Here, the clip claw member 42 is engaged with the pressing member 40through frictional resistance therebetween and it is maintained in aclosed state. Therefore, the clip 26 is left in the body cavity whileligaturing the portion to be ligatured A.

Accordingly, the ligation apparatus of the embodiment achieves thefollowing effect. In the ligation apparatus of the embodiment, the clip26 is accommodated in the sheath 28 such that the clip claw member 42 isnot exposed to the outside and it is inserted into a body cavity byinserting the sheath 28 into the channel of the endoscope or the like.Therefore, a channel inner wall is prevented from being injured by theclip claw member 42 and increase of a required amount of insertion forcedue to that the clip claw member 42 is caught by the channel inner wallis avoided. The clip claw member 42 is advanced and retreated relativeto the pressing member 40 to be opened and closed according tointeraction with the pressing member 40, and the advance and retreatrestricting mechanism restricts advance and retreat of the pressingmember 40 relative to the sheath 28 at the distal end portion of thesheath 28 and so enables advance and retreat of the clip claw member 42relative to the pressing member 40 according to advance and retreat ofthe operation wire 30 relative to the sheath 28 such that living tissuecan be ligatured by the clip 26. Therefore, the portion to be ligaturedA can be re-ligatured by the clip claw member 42. Thus, the ligationapparatus of the embodiment is an optimal apparatus for ligaturingliving tissue in a body cavity.

In the ligation apparatus of the embodiment, according to advance of theslider 36 relative to the control portion main body 34, the clip 26protrudes from the distal end portion of the sheath 28 and the clip clawmember 42 is opened, and, subsequently, according to retreat of theslider 36 relative to the control portion main body 34, the clip clawmember 42 is closed and the clip 26 is released from the distal endportion of the sheath 28. Thus, an operation direction in the proximalend portion of the ligation apparatus and an actuation direction at thedistal end portion of the ligation apparatus coincide with each other sothat an intuitive operation performed to the ligation apparatus is madepossible.

Further, in the clip 26 of the ligation apparatus of the embodiment,when the clip claw member 42 is advanced relative to the pressing member40, the clip claw member 42 is forcibly opened by the bridge portions72. If such bridge portions 72 are not formed, the clip claw member 42is opened by only expansion biasing to the clip claw member 42, whichresults in difficulty in reliable opening of the clip claw member 42,but the clip claw member 42 can be reliably opened in the embodiment.

FIGS. 9 to 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention.Constitutions having functions similar to those of the first embodimentare attached with same reference numerals and explanation thereof isomitted.

The advance restricting mechanism for restricting advance of thepressing member 40 and the releasing mechanism for releasing the clip 26will be explained below.

A diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 which can be elasticallyexpand and shrink in diameter is formed at a rear end portion of thepressing member 40. The diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 in adiameter-expanded state has an outer diameter larger than an innerdiameter of the sheath small diameter portion 48 and it has a functionsimilar to that of the above advance restricting portion 52 (FIGS. 1 to8). On the other hand, the diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80in a diameter-shrunk state has an outer diameter approximately equal tothat of an approximately cylindrical main body portion of the pressingmember 40 and smaller than an inner diameter of the sheath smalldiameter portion 48, so that the diameter-expanding and shrinkingportion 80 can pass through the sheath small diameter portion 48.

The diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 has projecting portions84 projecting inwardly in a diametrical direction of the pressing member40. An approximately cylindrical biasing portion 86 having a diameterlarger than an outer diameter of the operation wire 30 is integrally orseparately formed at the distal end portion of the operation wire 30.Incidentally, the small cylindrical portion 68 (FIGS. 1 and 8) is notformed on the connection member 40, which is different from the firstembodiment, and the distal end portion of the biasing portion 86 isconnected to a rear end portion of the large cylindrical portion 66 bybonding, mechanical connection, welding, or the like. The biasingportion 86 is inserted into the pressing member 40 to bias theprojecting portions 84 in a diametrically outward direction of thepressing member 40 and to maintain the diameter-expanding and shrinkingportion 80 in an expanded state. Here, a length of the biasing portion86 along the central axis direction is set such that it is always putinside the projecting portions 84 in a diametrical direction to maintainthe diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 in the diameter-expandedstate when the clip claw member 42 is opened and closed according toadvance and retreat of the clip claw member 42 relative to the pressingmember 40. After the first breaking portion 74 of the connection member44 is broken, when the biasing portion 86 is pulled out from thepressing member 40 by retreating the operation wire 30 relative to thesheath 28, biasing to the projecting portions 84 by the biasing portion86 is released, the diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 ismaintained in the diameter-shrunk state.

The opening and closing mechanism of the clip claw member 42 will beexplained below. The clip claw member 42 of the embodiment includes twocrossing portions 88 where a pair of arm portions 60 crosses each other.Respective arm portions 60 are bent such that top portions 90 are formedbetween these two crossing portions 88. On the other hand, a distal endportion of the pressing member 40 is formed in a flange shape and anopening and closing small diameter portion 92 having an inner diametersmaller than an inner diameter of the main body portion of the pressingmember 40 is formed at the distal end portion of the pressing member 40.In the embodiment, front and rear end portions of the opening andclosing small diameter portion 92 are each formed in a stepped shape,but they may be formed in another shape such as a slope shape. Here, adistance between the respective top portions 90 in a width direction ofthe clip 26 is larger than an inner diameter of the opening and closingsmall diameter portion 92 of the pressing member 40 in a natural statewhere an external force is not applied to the top portions 90 but it maybe larger or smaller than the inner diameter of the main body portion ofthe pressing member 40. The respective top portions 90 are inserted intothe opening and closing small diameter portion 92 by advancing the clipclaw member 42 relative to the pressing member 40, so that they areapproached each other in a diametrically inward direction of thepressing member 40 and the distal ends of the pair of arm portions 60are opened. On the other hand, the respective top portions 90 are pulledout from the opening and closing small diameter portion 92 according toretreat of the clip claw member 42 relative to the pressing member 40,so that they are separated from each other in a diametrically outwarddirection of the pressing member 40 and the distal ends of the pair ofarm portions 60 are closed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 9 to 13, a ligaturing method of living tissueusing the ligation apparatus of the embodiment will be explained.Hereinafter, detailed explanation of steps similar to those in the firstembodiment is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 9, the clip 26 is disposed near a portion to beligatured A by accommodating the clip 26 at the distal end portion ofthe sheath 28 and inserting the distal end portion of the sheath 28 intoa body cavity.

Referring to FIG. 10, the projecting portions 84 are biased in adiametrically outward direction of the pressing member 40 by the biasingportion 86 at the distal end portion of the operation wire 30, and thediameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 is maintained in adiameter-expanded state. In the state, the clip 26 is protruded from thedistal end portion of the sheath 28 so that advance and retreat of thepressing member 40 relative to the distal end portion of the sheath 28is restricted by the advance and retreat restricting mechanism. Theslider 36 is advanced relative to the control portion main body 34 sothat the clip claw member 42 is advanced relative to the pressing member40 by the operation wire 30. As a result, the top portions 90 of therespective arm portions 60 of the clip claw member 42 are inserted intothe opening and closing small diameter portion 92, so that the topportions 90 are approached to each other in the diametrically inwarddirection of the pressing member 40 and the distal ends of the pair ofarm portions 60 are opened.

Referring to FIG. 11, the distal end portions of the clip claw member 42are pressed to a portion to be ligatured A of living tissue. The slider36 is retreated relative to the control portion main body 34 of theligation apparatus, so that the clip claw member 42 is retreatedrelative to the pressing member 40 by the operation wire 30. As aresult, the top portions 90 of the respective arm portions 60 of theclip claw member 42 are pulled out of the opening and closing smalldiameter portion 92, so that the top portions 90 are separated from eachother in the diametrically outward direction of the pressing member 40and the distal ends of the pair of arm portions 60 are closed. Thus, theliving tissue is ligatured. When the portion to be ligatured A can notbe properly ligatured, the above-described opening and closing operationis repeated until the portion to be ligatured A is properly ligatured.

Referring to FIG. 12, in a state that the portion to be ligatured A hasbeen properly ligatured and the clip claw member 42 has beensufficiently withdrawn into the pressing member 40, the slider 36 isretreated relative to the control portion main body 34, the firstbreaking portion 74 of the connection member 44 is broken, and the clipclaw member 42 is separated from the operation wire 30. After the firstbreaking portion 74 is broken, the slider 36 is further retreatedrelative to the control portion main body 34. As a result, the biasingportion 86 at the distal end portion of the operation wire 30 is pulledout from the pressing member 40, so that biasing to the projectingportions 84 by the biasing portion 86 is released and thediameter-expanding and shrinking portions 80 are elastically transferredto a diameter-shrunk state, where the diameter-expanding and shrinkingportion 80 can pass through the sheath small diameter portion 48. Thus,the pressing member 40 is separated from the distal end portion of thesheath 28.

Referring to FIG. 13, the sheath 28 is pulled out from the endoscope andthe clip 26 is released from the distal end portion of the sheath 28.

Accordingly, the ligation apparatus of the embodiment achieves thefollowing effect. In the opening and closing mechanism of the clip clawmember 42 of the embodiment, according to advance of the clip clawmember 42 relative to the pressing member 40, the top portions 90 of therespective arm portions 60 of the clip claw member 42 are inserted intothe opening and closing small diameter portion of the pressing member 40and they are approached to each other by the opening and closing smalldiameter portion 92, so that the pair of arm portions 60 is opened. Onthe other hand, according to retreat of the clip claw member 42 relativeto the pressing member 40, the top portions 90 are pulled out from theopening and closing small diameter portion 92 and they are separatedfrom each other, so that the pair of arm portions 60 is closed.Therefore, even if opening and closing of the clip claw member 42 arerepeated, reduction of an opening width due to plastic deformation ofthe clip claw member 42 can be prevented, and opening and closing of theclip claw member 42 can be repeated permanently despite of the materialof the clip claw member 42.

In the releasing mechanism of the clip 26 of the embodiment, accordingto retreat of the slider 36 relative to the control portion main body34, the biasing portion 86 is pulled out of the pressing member 40 bythe operation wire 30, biasing to the projecting portions 84 imparted bythe biasing portion 86 is released, and the diameter-expanding andshrinking portion 80 is elastically transferred to a diameter-shrunkstate, where the diameter-expanding and shrinking portion 80 can passthrough the sheath small diameter portion 48. Thus, separation betweenthe pressing member 40 and the distal end portion of the sheath 28 isperformed utilizing elastic deformation, where the separation can bereliably performed and a required amount of operation force is reducedas compared with the case that the separation is performed utilizingplastic deformation.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a third embodiment of the present invention.Constitutions having functions similar to those of the first embodimentare attached with same reference numerals and explanation thereof isomitted.

Referring to FIG. 14, the pressing member 40 of the embodiment includesan elastic portion for advancing the clip claw member 42 relative to thepressing member 40. The elastic portion is formed of a flat spring 94projected from an inner peripheral face of the pressing member 40. Theflat spring 94 may be formed integrally with the pressing member 40 orit may be connected to the pressing member 40 provided as a separatingpart by bonding, mechanical connection, welding, or the like. Like thefirst embodiment, the clip claw member 42 is disposed at a front endposition relative to the pressing member 40 and the flat spring 94 isdisposed at a position of a rear end portion of the large cylindricalportion 66 of the connection member 44. When the connection member 44 isretreated relative to the pressing member 40 according to retreat of theoperation wire 30 relative to the sheath 28, the flat spring 94 iselastically deformed by the tapered shape of the large cylindricalportion 66 of the connection member 44, so that a repulsive force foradvancing the connection member 44 is produced.

Next, referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a ligaturing method of living tissueusing the ligation apparatus of the embodiment will be explained.Detailed explanation of steps similar to those in the first embodimentis omitted below.

The slider 36 is retreated relative to the control portion main body 34of the ligation apparatus so that the clip claw member 42 is closed tograsp living tissue. At the time, the connection member 44 is retreatedrelative to the pressing member 40, and the flat spring 94 iselastically deformed by a tapered shape of the large cylindrical portion66 of the connection member 44, so that a repulsive force for advancingthe connection member 44 is produced. When the portion to be ligatured Ais not ligatured properly, operation force to the slider 36 is released.As a result, the clip claw member 42, the connection member 44, and theoperation wire 30 are automatically advanced relative to the pressingmember 40 or the sheath 28 by repulsive force of the flat spring 94, andthe clip claw member 42 is opened so that the portion to be ligatured Ais released. Thereafter, the above-described operation is repeated untilthe portion to be ligatured A is properly ligatured.

Accordingly, the ligation apparatus of the embodiment achieves thefollowing effect. In such a configuration that an advance operation ofthe slider 36 relative to the operation main body portion is transmittedto the connection member 44 via the operation wire 30, such a caseoccurs that operation force is not sufficiently transmitted to theconnection member 44 due to slack of the operation wire 30 so that theconnection member 44 is not advanced securely. In the ligation apparatusof the embodiment, the clip claw member 42, the connection member 44,and the operation wire 30 are advanced relative to the pressing member40 or the sheath 28 by elastic force of the flat spring 94 of thepressing member 40. Therefore, the connection member 44 can be advancedreliably and the clip claw member 42 can be opened and closed reliably.

According to only releasing operation force relative to the slider 36,the connection member 44 is automatically advanced relative to thepressing member 40 by elastic force of the flat spring 94. Therefore,operation for advance of the slider 36 relative to the control portionmain body 34 is made unnecessary so that operation of the ligationapparatus is considerably simple.

Incidentally, the elastic portion of the embodiment can be also appliedto the second embodiment.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show a fourth embodiment. Constitutions having functionssimilar to those of the third embodiment are attached with samereference numerals and explanation thereof is omitted.

The elastic portion of the embodiment is formed of a coil spring 96. Thecoil spring 96 is attached in the pressing member 40 and attached on theconnection member 44 between the distal end portion of the tapered shapeof the large cylindrical portion 66 of the connection member 44 and adistal end face of the engagement small diameter portion 78 of thepressing member 40. When operation force to the slider 36 is released,the clip claw member 42 is disposed at a front end position relative tothe pressing member 40 and the coil spring 96 is not compressed. Byretreating the operation wire 30 relative to the sheath 28 to retreatthe connection member 44 relative to the pressing member 40, the coilspring 96 is compressed by the distal end portion of the tapered shapeand the distal end face of the engagement small diameter portion 78, sothat a repulsive force for advancing the connection member 44 isproduced. The ligaturing method of living tissue by the ligationapparatus of the embodiment is similar to that of living tissue by theligation apparatus of the third embodiment.

In the embodiment, since the coil spring 96 is used as the elasticportion, larger elastic force can be obtained reliably as compared withthe case that the flat spring 94 is used like the third embodiment.Therefore, large force can be applied to the distal end of theconnection member 44 so that the clip claw member 42 can be openedreliably.

FIGS. 18 to 22 show a fifth embodiment. Constitutions having functionssimilar to those of the first embodiment are attached with samereference numerals and explanation thereof is omitted.

The advance and retreat restricting mechanism for restricting advanceand retreat of a pressing member 40 will be explained below.

The sheath small diameter portion 48 of the embodiment is disposed apartfrom the distal end of the sheath 28 by a distance. The sheath smalldiameter portion 48 is formed by crushing the sheath 28 from an outerperipheral face thereof to protrude the same in a diametrically inwarddirection or by connecting another member on an inner peripheral face ofthe sheath 28. The sheath small diameter portion 48 of the embodimentfunctions as an advance restricting sheath small diameter portion and aretreat restricting sheath small diameter portion. That is, the advancerestricting stopper 50 for restricting advance of the pressing member 40is formed of a rear end of the sheath small diameter portion 48. On theother hand, the retreat restricting stopper 54 for restricting retreatof the pressing member 40 is formed of a distal end of the sheath smalldiameter portion 48. The distal end portion of the pressing member 40 isformed in a flange shape, and a retreat restricting large diameterportion 98 whose outer diameter is increased is formed at the distal endportion of the pressing member 40. The retreat restricting largediameter portion 98 of the pressing member 40 is configured to abut theretreat restricting stopper 54 of the sheath small diameter portion 48,so that retreat of the pressing member 40 relative to the sheath 28 isrestricted.

Here, when the retreat restricting large diameter portion 98 of thepressing member 40 abuts the advance restricting stopper 54 of thesheath small diameter portion 48, the pressing member 40 is positionedat a front end position with respect to the sheath 28, and the positionof the pressing member 40 is called distal end restricting position.Incidentally, a length between the distal end of the sheath 28 and theadvance restricting stopper 50 of the sheath small diameter portion 48is set to be almost equal to or slightly shorter than a length betweenthe distal end portion of the pressing member 40 and the distal end faceof the advance restricting large diameter portion 52. That is, when thepressing member 40 is disposed at the distal end restricting position,the distal end portion of the pressing member 40 is disposed at aposition of the distal end of the sheath 28 or slightly protruded fromthe distal end of the sheath 28. On the other hand, when the retreatrestricting large diameter portion 98 of the pressing member 40 abutsthe retreat restricting stopper 54 of the sheath small diameter portion48, the pressing member 40 is positioned at a rear end position relativeto the sheath 28 and the position of the pressing member 40 is calledrear end restricting position.

When the pressing member 40 is disposed at the distal end restrictingposition, the operation wire 30 is advanced relative to the sheath 28 sothat the clip claw member 42 is advanced relative to the pressing member40, while the operation wire 30 is retreated relative to the sheath 28so that the pressing member 40 and the clip claw member 42 are retreatedtogether relative to the sheath 28. On the other hand, when the pressingmember 40 is disposed at the rear end restricting position, theoperation wire 30 is retreated relative to the sheath 28 so that theclip claw member 42 is retreated relative to the pressing member 40,while the operation wire 30 is advanced relative to the sheath 28 sothat the pressing member 40 and the clip claw member 42 are advancedtogether relative to the sheath 28. When the pressing member 40 isdisposed between the distal end restricting position and the rear endrestricting position, the pressing member 40 and the clip claw member 42are advanced and retreated together relative to the sheath 28 byadvancing and retreating the operation wire 30 relative to the sheath28, so that the clip claw member 42 is biased by the inner peripheralface of the sheath 28 to be opened and closed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 18 to 22, a ligaturing method using theligation apparatus of the embodiment will be explained. The detailedexplanation about steps similar to the first embodiment is omitted.

Referring to FIG. 18, a clip 26 is attached to a distal end portion ofthe sheath 28 and the slider 36 is retreated relative to the controlportion main body 34. As a result, the clip 26 is retreated relative tothe sheath 28, the pressing member 40 is disposed at the rear endrestricting position, the clip claw member 42 is further retreatedrelative to the pressing member 40, and the clip claw member 42 isaccommodated in the sheath 28 so as not be exposed to the outside. Inthe state, the distal end portion of the sheath 28 is inserted into abody cavity and it is disposed near a portion to be ligatured A ofliving tissue.

Referring to FIG. 19, the slider 36 is advanced relative to the controlportion main body 34, the clip 26 is advanced relative to the sheath 28,the pressing member 40 is disposed at the distal end restrictingposition, the clip claw member 42 is advanced relative to the pressingmember 40 to be disposed at the front end position, and the clip clawmember 42 is opened to a maximum extent.

Referring to FIG. 20, after the distal end portion of the clip clawmember 42 is pressed on the portion to be ligatured A, the slider 36 isretreated relative to the control portion main body 34. As a result, theclip 26 is retreated relative to the sheath 28, and the clip claw member42 is closed by an inner peripheral wall of the sheath 28, so that theportion to be ligatured A is temporarily ligatured. Here, when thetemporal ligature is not performed properly, re-ligaturing is performed.That is, the slider 36 is advanced relative to the control portion mainbody 34, the clip 26 is advanced relative to the sheath 28, and biasingto the clip claw member 42 imparted by the inner peripheral face of thesheath 28 is released, so that the clip claw member 42 is opened torelease the portion to be ligatured A. Then, the temporary ligature isperformed again.

Referring to FIG. 21, if the temporary ligature has been performedproperly, transfer to a primary ligature is performed. That is, theslider 36 is retreated relative to the control portion main body 34, andthe clip 26 is retreated relative to the sheath 28, so that the pressingmember 40 is disposed at the rear end restricting position. Further, theslider 36 is retreated relative to the control portion main body 34, andthe portion to be ligatured A is primarily ligatured like the firstembodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 23, the clip claw member 42 is separated fromthe distal end portion of the operation wire 30 and the pressing member40 is separated from the distal end portion of the sheath 28, and theclip 26 is separated from the distal end portion of the sheath 28 likethe first embodiment.

Accordingly, the ligation apparatus of the embodiment achieves thefollowing effect. When the elastically movable blade portions 56 areused as the retreat restricting mechanism for the pressing member 40like the first embodiment, if such a state is maintained that the clip26 is accommodated in the distal end portion of the sheath 28 and theblade portions 56 are folded in the pressing member 40, elasticity ofthe blade portions 56 degrade, which results in such a case that, whenthe pressing member 40 is protruded from the distal end portion of thesheath 28, the blade portions 56 are not expanded sufficiently and thefunction as the retreat restricting mechanism cannot be fulfilledsufficiently. In the embodiment, since a fixed retreat restricting largediameter portion 98 is used as the retreat restricting mechanism for thepressing member 40, such an event is avoided and retreat of the pressingmember 40 can be restricted reliably.

Since, even after the clip 28 is separated from the distal end portionof the sheath 28, it is necessary to maintain such a state that the clip28 has ligatured living tissue, a certain level of frictional force isrequired between the clip claw member 42 and the pressing member 40 suchthat the clip claw member 42 and the pressing member 40 are engaged witheach other reliably. However, when the frictional force is excessivelylarge, there is such a possibility that advance of the clip claw member42 relative to the pressing member 40 is blocked and expanding of theclip claw member 42 is blocked. In the embodiment, in the temporaryligature that may be performed repeatedly, opening or closing of theclip claw member 42 is performed by advancing and retreating the clip 26relative to the sheath 28, so that it is avoided that expanding of theclip claw member 42 is blocked by a frictional force between the clipclaw member 42 and the pressing member 40.

1. A ligation apparatus characterized by comprising: a clip (26)including a clip claw member (42) that is configured to open and closeand ligatures a living tissue and a pressing member (40) in which theclip claw member (42) is accommodated and configured to advance andretreat, the clip claw member (42) being advanced and retreated relativeto the pressing member (40) to be opened and closed according tointeraction with the pressing member (40); a sheath (28) which isconfigured to accommodate the clip (26) such that the clip (26) isconfigured to advance and retreat and such that the clip claw member(42) is not exposed to the outside; an operation wire (30) which isinserted through the sheath (28) to be configured to advance andretreat, whose distal end portion is connected to the clip claw member(42), and which is configured to advance and retreat the clip (26)relative to the sheath (28); an advance and retreat restrictingmechanism (50, 52, 54, 56; 50, 54, 56, 80, 86; 50, 52, 54, 98) whichrestricts advance and retreat of the pressing member (40) relative tothe sheath (28) at a distal end portion of the sheath (28) to allowadvance and retreat of the clip claw member (42) relative to thepressing member (40) according to advance and retreat of the operationwire (30) relative to the sheath (28) so as to allow the clip (26)ligaturing the living tissue; and a releasing mechanism (66, 74, 76, 78;74, 80, 86) which releases at least one portion of the clip (26) fromthe sheath (28) in a state that the clip (26) ligatures the livingtissue.
 2. The ligation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized inthat the advance and retreat restricting mechanism (50, 52, 54, 56; 50,54, 56, 80, 86; 50, 52, 54, 98) includes a retreat restricting mechanism(54, 56; 54, 98) which restricts retreat of the pressing member (40)relative to the sheath (28) and an advance restricting mechanism (50,52; 50, 80, 86) which restricts advance of the pressing member (40)relative to the sheath (28).
 3. The ligation apparatus according toclaim 2, characterized in that the retreat restricting mechanism (54,56; 54, 98) includes a retreat restriction abutting portion (56; 98)which is provided on the pressing member (40), and a retreat restrictingstopper (54) which is provided on the sheath (28) and is configured toabut the retreat restriction abutting portion (56; 98) disposed in frontof the retreat restricting stopper (54) to restrict retreat of thepressing member (40).
 4. The ligation apparatus according to claim 3,characterized in that the pressing member (40) is configured to beprojected from the distal end portion of the sheath (28) and withdrawntherein, the retreat restriction abutting portion (56) includes a bladeportion (56) which is provided on the pressing member (40), configuredto be elastically expand and open, and, shrink and close, and which isshrunk and closed when the pressing member (40) is accommodated in thesheath (28) and is expanded and opened when the pressing member (40)protrudes from the sheath (28); the retreat restricting stopper (54) isprovided at a distal end portion of the sheath (28) and abut theexpanded and opened blade portion (56) so that the pressing member (40)is restricted to be entered into the distal end portion of the sheath(28).
 5. The ligation apparatus according to claim 3, characterized inthat the pressing member (40) and the sheath (28) are approximatelycylindrical, the retreat restriction abutting portion (98) is formed ofa retreat restricting large diameter portion (98) whose outer diameteris increased in the pressing member (40), and the retreat restrictingstopper (54) is formed of a retreat restricting sheath small diameterportion (48) whose inner diameter is decreased in the pressing member(28).
 6. The ligation apparatus according to claim 5, characterized inthat the operation wire (30) is advanced and retreated relative to thesheath (28), the clip (26) is advanced and retreated relative to thesheath (28) in a range where the retreat restricting large diameterportion (98) does not abut the retreat restricting sheath small diameterportion (48), and the clip claw member (42) is opened and closed byinteraction with the sheath (28), so that temporary ligaturing of theliving tissue is performed, and in a state that the retreat restrictinglarge diameter portion (98) abuts the retreat restricting sheath smalldiameter portion (48), the operation wire (30) is retreated relative tothe sheath (28) and the clip claw member (42) is retreated relative tothe pressing member (40) so that primary ligaturing of living tissue isperformed.
 7. The ligation apparatus according to claim 6, characterizedin that, when the living tissue is primarily ligatured, the clip clawmember (42) is fixed to the pressing member (40) by frictional force. 8.The ligation apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that theadvance restricting mechanism (50, 52; 50, 80, 86) includes an advancerestriction abutting portion (52; 80, 86) which is provided on thepressing member (40), and an advance restricting stopper (50) which isprovided on the sheath (28) and is configured to abut the advancerestriction abutting portion (52; 80, 86) disposed in rear of advancerestricting stopper (50) to restrict advance of the pressing member(40).
 9. The ligation apparatus according to claim 8, characterized inthat the pressing member (40) and the sheath (28) are approximatelycylindrical, the advance restriction abutting portion (52; 80) is formedof an advance restricting large diameter portion (52; 80) whose outerdiameter is increased in the pressing member (40), and the advancerestricting stopper (50) is formed of an advance restricting sheathsmall diameter portion (48) whose inner diameter is decreased in thesheath (28).
 10. The ligation apparatus according to claim 4,characterized in that the advance restricting mechanism (50, 52)includes an advance restriction abutting portion (52) provided on thepressing member (40) and an advance restricting stopper (50) provided onthe sheath (28) and configured to abut the advance restriction abuttingportion (52) to restrict advance of the pressing member (40), and whenthe pressing member (40) is advanced relative to the sheath (28) so thatthe advance restriction abutting portion (52) abut the advancerestricting stopper (50), the blade portion (56) is expanded and opened.11. The ligation apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising aconnection member (44) connecting a distal end portion of the operationwire (30) and the clip claw member (42) to each other, wherein thereleasing mechanism (66, 74, 76, 78) includes a first breaking portion(74) which is provided on the connection member (44) and which isconfigured to be broken to separate the clip claw member (42) from thedistal end portion of the operation wire (30), and a second breakingportion (76) which is provided on a distal end of the advancerestriction abutting portion (52) in the pressing member (40) and whichis configured to be broken to separate the distal end of the pressingmember (40) from the sheath (28).
 12. The ligation apparatus accordingto claim 11, characterized in that the second breaking portion (76)includes a fragile portion (76) whose strength is weaker than the otherportion of the pressing member (40).
 13. The ligation apparatusaccording to claim 12, characterized in that, regarding a cross-sectionperpendicular to advancing and retreating directions of the pressingmember (40), a sectional area of the fragile portion (76) is smallerthan that of the other portion of the pressing member (40).
 14. Theligation apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that thereleasing mechanism (66, 74, 76, 78) includes an engagement portion (66)provided on a rear end of the first breaking portion (74) on theconnection member (44) and an engagement reception portion (78) providedon a rear end of the second breaking portion (76) on the pressing member(40), and according to retreat of the operation wire (30) relative tothe sheath (28), the first breaking portion (74) is broken, theconnection member (44) is retreated, the engagement portion (66) isengaged with the engagement reception portion (78), the engagementreception portion (78) is biased toward the rear end, and the secondbreaking portion (76) is broken.
 15. The ligation apparatus according toclaim 14, characterized in that the pressing member (40) isapproximately cylindrical and the connection member (44) isapproximately cylindrical, the engagement portion (66) is formed of anengagement large diameter portion (66) whose outer diameter is increasedon the connection member (44), and the engagement reception portion (78)is formed of an engagement small diameter portion (78) whose innerdiameter is decreased on the pressing member (40).
 16. The ligationapparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a connection member(44) connecting a distal end portion of the operation wire (30) and theclip claw member (42) to each other, wherein the advance restrictingmechanism (50, 80, 86) includes a biasing portion (86) provided on thedistal end portion of the operation wire (30), and a diameter-expandingand shrinking portion (80) which is provided on the pressing member (40)and configured to be elastically diameter-expand and shrink and which isbiased and expanded in a diametrically outward direction of the pressingmember (40) by the biasing portion (86) to form the advance restrictinglarge diameter portion (80), and the releasing mechanism (74, 80, 86)includes a first breaking portion (74) provided on the connection member(44) and configured to be broken to separate the clip claw member (42)from the distal end portion of the operation wire (30), the biasingportion (86), and the diameter-expanding and shrinking portion (80), andaccording to retreat of the operation wire (30) relative to the sheath(28), the first breaking portion (74) is broken, the biasing portion(86) is retreated toward the rear end beyond the diameter-expanding andshrinking portion (80) so that the diameter-expanding and shrinkingportion (80) is diameter-shrunk, so that the pressing member (40) isallowed to pass through the advance restricting sheath small diameterportion (48) toward the distal end.
 17. The ligation apparatus accordingto claim 16, characterized in that the expanding and shrinking diameterportion (80) includes a projecting portion (84) which projects in adiametrical inward direction of the pressing member (40) and is biasedin a diametrically outward direction of the pressing member (40) by thebiasing portion (86).
 18. The ligation apparatus according to claim 1,characterized in that the pressing member (40) includes an elasticportion (94; 96) which is configured to advance the clip claw member(42) relative to the pressing member (40).
 19. The ligation apparatusaccording to claim 18, characterized in that the elastic portion (94;96) is elastically deformed by retreating the operation wire (30)relative to the sheath (28) and retreating the clip claw member (42)relative to the pressing member (40), and the elastic portion (94; 96)advances the clip claw member (42) relative to the pressing member (40)by a repulsive force produced when releasing the operation wire (30).20. The ligation apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe pressing member (40) includes a bridge portion (72) which forciblyopens the clip claw member (42) when the clip claw member (42) isadvanced relative to the pressing member (40).
 21. The ligationapparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressingmember (40) is approximately cylindrical and includes an opening andclosing small diameter portion (92) whose inner diameter is decreased,the clip claw member (42) includes a pair of arm portions (60) which isopened and closed to each other, the pair of the arm portions (60)includes at least two crossing portions (88) which are crossed to eachother and top portions with a folded shape provided on the respectivearm portions (60) between the two crossing portions (88), and accordingto advance of the clip claw member (42) relative to the pressing member(40), the top portions (90) are inserted into the opening and closingsmall diameter portion (92) to be approached to each other by theopening and closing small diameter portion (92) so that the pair of armportions (60) is opened, and according to retreat of the clip clawmember (42) relative to the pressing member (40), the top portions (90)are pulled out from the opening and closing small diameter portion (92)to be spaced from each other so that the pair of arm portions (60) isclosed.